Pickleball World Cup 2025 – Live
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Transcript
[cheering] G A [cheering] [applause] >> captains are both captains here. >> Mexico captain Jonathan, >> he'll be here in a second. He's with our seniors. >> Okay. >> He'll be in. Nice to meet you, >> Larry. >> Sebastian. Larry. >> That's Trish. She'll be the second referee. >> Thank you. >> And what's your name again? >> Sebastian. Sebastian. Sebastian. Sebastian. >> Sebastian. Oh, Sebastian. >> Sebastian. >> Thank you. They had a big Thank you. Level. Get Now we want to listen. No, not Okay. One, two, one, two. Okay. Mic check. Mic check. Mic check. Okay. Mic check. Mic check. [laughter] Where's Hola? Hola. camera. I was on You want to take a lead? I just want to test this really quick. Test, test, test. >> Hello and welcome back. >> We can't hear each other, so you you have to take one off if you want to hear me. Okay. >> Doing a little test here. Hoping you can hear me. This is way too loud in my ear. I don't know how to turn it down. Sucks. >> Hola. Hola. >> I'm super not ready. >> Uh making sure if you guys can hear us. Uh they don't talk to you. Hopefully this is good enough. You >> Paul is kind of like our head station person. Be great if uh in the in here. >> Sounds good to me. Comprende escar all good in the hood. Mexico versus Chile. Michelle say That's all good. You know what I mean? I know. When when it started They don't nothing yet. >> That would be good like to know which teams they played against yesterday and um highlight like oh they had a great win over >> thousand% into that show. >> I'm just like I'm just like giving you green light. The more information we have, the more we can >> assume I know nothing. >> This is Mexico and Chile. Okay, we have our women's doubles, Charlie Trevino and Chelsea Alen and Yavier Escobar and Natalya Mento. >> Cool. All right, now we're now we're talking. >> Mexico's top. Hi. Do you hear us? Um, [laughter] come on. Okay. >> Okay. >> What is this to go into the 32? >> South Africa got through. Can we hear the count? >> Oh. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 >> 1 2 and then 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [cheering] benchmark for the rest of this match. >> Yeah, Cuba came out really hot there on that first half. It was amazing. They had the lead here. >> 15 seconds. >> Jeannie Leon, 24 years old, >> representing team Cuba. She's going to start us off after the end change. Oh, nice. >> Oh, she's there for it. The lefty. >> Oh, beautiful play from Cuba. [cheering] >> You got to love the teamwork. Both Poland and Leon see each other and move with each other so well on the court. Positioning very important in in pickle ball. >> The lefty finds a hole down the middle. >> I love that deceptive takeback. It looked like she was going to dink and all of a sudden she fall right through that shot. Threading the needle right through that hole. Love to see it. >> That's how lefties do. 138 >> JMA. Shout out to Knox. >> A little high >> off the net, but it stays on court. >> Tiveres trying to come with I Miss Hildago. >> She's got to find a way to really take over this match. >> 913. >> 913. Not a blowout by any means. Rally scoring to 21. Win by two. That's a great start. within three. Dominican Republic [cheering] >> 101 13 some pressure. >> She's there with the reestablish from Cuba. 14. [cheering] >> I am loving Annabelle Pen right now. She is consistent. She's getting to every ball. She knows everything's coming to her and she is prepared as ever. >> Getting into that ball off the net and then back for the volley. The old reestablished. So good. >> Nice point here. handled Cuba. >> Of course, Michelle, when I refer to the reestablish, I'm referring to the rule that when you take a ball from the kitchen, you have to establish two points of contact outside of the kitchen or that non volley zone to be eligible for that volley, which she did in a beautiful way. >> Yeah, we've been seeing a lot of shallow dinks and because of those shallow dinks, you have to reestablish like you mentioned. >> Beautiful footwork there. >> Brought to you by Knox. >> There you go. Lauren Hillgo of Dominican Republic stepping in, staying aggressive, almost as if she were playing mixed doubles, really coming over that uh center line, really taking over. Point inside out. >> Hisaldo again. Dominican Republic finding her aggressive style. That's what she needs to do. Taking over, putting a little less pressure on her partner. >> Dynamic. >> [cheering] >> We found some momentum change here and this after the end change here for the Dominican Republic. >> Had really stepping it up. >> They were down by four, now only by two. >> I'll recall the score. 1315. unlucky one-point game here. Lefty's really going to want that timeout, stop that momentum in its tracks. I agree with that decision. >> So, really after that end change, I saw Lauren Hago of Dominican Republic really step up there, staying aggressive. Um, you know, Annabelle Poland of team Cuba has been consistent as ever, but when you apply that pressure, then you kind of get a little bit more tense. you feel like you have to do a little bit more. Uh what have you seen here, Rob? >> Yeah, and also, you know, uh for Dominican Republic playing on the right side also got a little more solid, kind of clean it up a little bit and allowed the point at least to last to where Hilago can get involved. And that's just good pickle ball working together to really solve >> solve the problem. One-point game here. Women's doubles. The first game of this match already feels like a marathon. I like where this is going, Michelle. Yeah, I love it. We've had a little bit of drama everywhere. A little bit of a that end change really slow down the momentum with that water on the court. I think that actually helped Dominican Republic really just, you know, get back into the game and and really just figure out what they need. >> Yeah. Forget about the pressure a little bit and just get out there and start playing some pickle ball. >> Third shot drive. Fifth shot drive. [cheering] >> Out. >> Stifled. >> 16. Annabelle Poland handling those those big speed up shots right into her body. She blocks for the side out. Possession of serve. >> Hey, I love dink volleys, Rod Cats. You know, I'm all about that dink volley because it gives you the opportunity to be deceptive and speed one up at the right timing. I love that shot. >> Dominican Republic, as you said, Laura Traverz is really stepping it up here, cleaning things up. [screaming] >> Survives enough to get the ball on the paddle of Hago. >> [applause] >> Tie game. >> 1616. >> 16 all >> the composure. Laura, Dominican or Republic. 17 16 >> rifle >> punch back into the setup. It's not over yet. >> Hago. >> More to come. Sunny side up and the ball is offc court. Huge point for the ladies of the Dominican Republic. [cheering] >> Definitely the best point of the match so far. We're only in the first matchup between these two tremendous players, these two teams. Amazing. Dominican Republic will call their timeout as they win a huge point right there against team Cuba. >> And I like that timeout. And it could be potentially cuz it was a long- winded point. That's a lot of running around, a lot of sprints in a small amount of time. And there's times when that can just carry over and kind of affect the the next point. Great use of the timeout to really just snuff that out. >> Yes, absolutely. I would agree with you there. Not a lot of Not a lot of players think that way. They think keep going, keep going. But just as you mentioned, the quality of that point, the hustle, the positioning so good. Time to regroup, time to focus and stay in it as Dominican Republic is really close to clenching this women's doubles matchup. >> Absolutely. >> 15 seconds. Serving team remaining timeouts. Serving team one. Receiving team one. Time in >> 181 16 out. >> Ball is out. >> 17 >> potential momentum shift in that timeout. 1718 >> 1718 >> Hago nice return >> Holland takes her chances and it's punished >> by the fierce Hago [cheering] >> right-handed left side player >> 1917 >> for the Dominican Republic Tivera pulls it off. Oh, and finally >> Leon gets a forehand on it to tie the game. [applause] [cheering] The ball was out on the swing. Huge opportunity for Dominican Republic >> 2017. >> Oh, and the lefty doesn't miss. >> I love Annabelle Poland. I love how she plays. She is so composed out there. She's really doing it for team Cuba. I love it. >> This is still game point for Dominican Republic. Here we go. >> There's one to the game plan. [cheering] Poland >> definitely felt some pressure there from Dominican Republic on that miss dink. >> Let's see what Cuba could do here. ladies. >> Oh my goodness. >> Cuba saves two game points for women's doubles. Goosebumps on our legs, on our arms as the things are tied up here. This is what pickle ball is all about. Time out. >> Believe Cuba is seeking to call a timeout here. >> No, no timeout. No timeout. >> But they don't have a timeout. >> A lengthy towel down as the head referee calls back to the court. 2020 here in game one. >> Cuba to serve. Win by two. [cheering] Ah, [screaming] Pago takes her chance. That was a tough time to swing. Not necessarily the best ball. We understand where she was coming from. We now have a game point for Cuba. 2120 >> going to shut it down. >> This is incredible. We had some momentum shifts on both sides. Cuba has took the lead. Dominican Republic back to Cuba. Now it's Dominican Republic's opportunity. >> [cheering] >> Oh, that is offc court off of the forehand of Leon trying to find that sideline and now another match point for Dominican Republic. Did >> you see it? Did you see it? >> Checking with the ref on the inner out call. Cuba sideline convinced it was in >> the second game point. That's right. >> 2221 >> pseudo Ernie that's high. Oh >> point >> 22. Hidalgo was aggressive on their last game point. They were a little too cautious this time around. Things are tied up again. Cuba looking to take the advantage. >> 22-22. >> Third shot drive. It's over. >> Right out point 23. >> And you could feel it. Both Cuba and Dominican Republic playing extremely tight. Not as loose as we saw earlier on. 2322. >> Game point [cheering] >> and the pressure >> pushes through for Dominican Republic securing the women's doubles. What a fight on both ends. tragic as it might have been an outball played for sure. But in that moment, you got to put the percentage on your paddle. Michelle, >> Lauren Hildalgo, Laura TZ down on the end change. Come back to get two game points. They do it on the third. The the pressure like you mentioned, Rob Cassidy, tremendous from them. Relentless. They're going on as with a one zero advantage moving into the men's doubles game. >> They kept their cool nicely. They pushed through. What a battle at the end there. And now we have men's doubles getting ready to take the court. Looking forward to more energy, more action here on Championship Court. >> We'll be right back. over [cheering] pizza. Hernandez people. Hallelujah. All right. That way. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome back to the Pickle Ball World Cup 2025. Certainly delivering here on Championship Court. What an action-packed women's doubles battle here at the fort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. >> Folks, thanks for tuning in around the world. We have men's doubles now. Cuba versus the Dominican Republic >> and the Dominican Republic to serve. point. >> Beautiful middle dink to take the first point. >> Going to want to remember that. >> One zero. >> Might be a good spot moving forward. >> Oh, heavy swings. Looking at some quality men's doubles here. Michelle Esl. and off the chest. >> Three zero. >> Strong serves, strong returns. side out. >> Beautiful play. Monstrous right side player for Cuba. >> One, three. for Dominican Republic. On the left we have Tobias Moreno and on the right Emmanuel Dixon >> two-handed crosscourt lob for point >> might be a Dominican Republic special. >> 41. That was gorgeous. >> Drop for point. Equally as gorgeous. >> 51. side out. >> I mean, you can't you can't uh >> not notice team Dominican Republic with the lefty lefty duo. You rarely see that in pickle ball and love to see it here against this matchup against Cuba. >> Edgar Hernandez serving the the lefty that's playing on the right. Excuse me. Emmanuel Dixon is the one playing on the right for team Dominican Republic and Tobias Moreno the lefty playing on the left from Dominican Republic >> out three >> Eber Molina with a really good court positioning there covers the middle on team Cuba >> playing with teammate Edgar Hernandez. >> Overcooked there from Ever Molina of team Cuba. Hey, three >> point [screaming] >> 93. Three >> point >> 10 three >> side out Four. >> 410. [cheering] >> Side out. Point 11. Timeout. Change ends. 114. One minute. 114. >> Lot going on. A lot going on here on championship court. the uh the power power game is really coming into play. And it's not just power, but it's the precision that they have coming up with those drives. It's very smooth. It's very beautiful these swings. And take notes. We got a >> two-handed backhand clinic from the lefties of the Dominican Republic. And shout out to Jamie Hos for leading the way. >> Pro player who is leading the way with the left side lefty. Now Moreno is following suit. >> 124 [cheering] >> 2025 pickle ball. It's the dual lefties taking over. >> Tobias Moreno. >> 134. >> Opts for the drop and it's good. >> Hands down my favorite way to win a point. >> Yeah, it's it's awesome when you have a when you have a drop that looks high enough to be attackable and then just comes down at the last second. That's quality right there. There's that two-hander. They give him the option to do it. >> Side out, >> but they shut it down. Cuba, >> ball in hand. >> 514. >> 514 as the Dominican Republic pulls away. >> Football left foot point. [cheering] >> Football called on Moreno. >> Got to watch those feet at the kitchen line. Both feet have to be established outside when you hit that ball out of the air. >> Side out point. >> That's the beauty of the lefty lefty combo. There is forehands everywhere on that court. [laughter] >> You could say the same for team Cuba on the right side. >> Exactly. That's what I'm saying. >> Staying alive after a a poor over or poor lob execution >> 16 >> but stays defensive. Great job from Dominican Republic. >> Out. >> Nice play. Edgar Hernandez, >> big man, rocking the flamingo paddle. >> 716. >> Nice drive. Follows it up. >> Timely drop. >> Brutal. Molina outlasting the Dominican Republic there. >> 816 >> Hernandez to serve. >> Time to get to work for team Cuba. >> The drop is too much. That ball got behind him. >> He's got two options. Either A, don't advance >> or B take one step forward and take that ball out of the air. >> Tricky but effective. Oh, lovely stuff. Moreno is not fooled. [cheering and applause] >> It's good pickle ball, folks. Welcome to Pickle Ball World Cup 2025. >> 188 And how about that >> huge hands battle goes to team Cuba. >> 918 >> 918 no freeze >> side [cheering] out. Beautiful stuff from the right side lefty Emmanuel Dixon. >> Love this lefty lefty combo. >> It's challenging for the opponent. Gives a unique look. >> They're at 19. >> Oh my goodness. He can make that drive from anywhere. Zero indication that he's driving that ball. Suddenly the ball is on your paddle. >> 29 >> game point. >> [cheering] >> Oh my goodness. And there you have it. The lefty lefty duo [cheering] of the Dominican Republic take game two in men's doubles. A beautiful match. Elegant to watch. These boys got game and they're taking it all the way here today in the elimination rounds. Congratulations. Such a fun match to watch. Up next, we have our first mixed doubles. We'll see these players again. Don't go anywhere. Stay tuned. >> [cheering] >> Come on, please. Republica. Perfect. Jenny Leon. We can candle enthusiasm. Heck yeah. Kago on the left would be sick. Oh, I don't know. Come on. Come on. Gabriel. Gabriel. [laughter] Welcome back to the Pickle Ball World Cup 2025 where we have team Cuba versus Dominican Republic here on Championship Court at the fort. Thank you guys for tuning in around the world. Rob Cassidy here with East versus West, United States MVP Michelle Esel in the house. Michelle, thank you for joining us here today. What an event to be a part of. >> Absolutely. Dominican Republic has been very impressive thus far. They're going to start us out here in our first mixed doubles. >> And we are underway. >> Oh, that's a great initiate, but Cuba survives. >> Interesting stuff. We had Moreno playing left side. Now we have him on the right with Tivera >> point. >> Two zero. >> Huge counter. [applause and cheering] Three zero. >> Molina with an epic counter >> side out one. >> Now a not so epic third shot drive. That's going to be a little bit of a freebie >> for Dominican Republic to Viver. >> Side out. >> Artistic with that dink >> for point on the sideline of the very impressive lefty Moreno. >> 41. Oh, and the lefty injection of the forehand. >> It's going to do it. >> It's how you play Alpha. >> Yeah. Ever Molina giving some words of advice to Genie Leon right now. You know, maybe uh sinking a little bit more straight ahead going behind the guy. Hey, big overhead there from Ibra Molina from Cuba. >> They need to stay I feel like they really need this one in order to stay relevant in this match. >> They're down. They're trailing 200 overall. So, this is very important for them to take this mixed >> everywhere and nowhere. Moreno >> three. Elite pickle ball at its finest. >> Three, five. >> A very intentional return deep to the girl there from Ever Molina of Cuba. A quick point putting the pressure applying that pressure right off the return. out. >> You could see Cuba staying very aggressive to Laura Ta. I mean, she's got to get ready. She's got to see that the ball's coming right higher her. A lot of drives, a lot of aggressive shots. >> That was good intention from Molina. 4 six >> 46 >> side out. >> That's going to get it done. >> 74. [cheering] That put away from Molina had to go over to Laura. He's setting himself so well. He just needs to keep going to his target. Stay on top of it. >> Great hands from Tobias Moreno. >> Yikes. >> Aberina getting it done. Game's growing, folks. >> Amazing players >> popping up around the world. >> That Leon forehand. >> I feel like they're feeding these overheads to Aver right now. And he's loving it. He's taking advantage. Four-point lead here. >> 95. point. >> Missed opportunity for Dominican Republic to end what we call a momentum run from team Cuba. >> It's like we're trying to pass on that overhead when really she just needs to touch court with that ball and play through. >> She could go right at uh Leon or go middle, anything but off court. Some miscommunication between Dominican Republic players and that's going to do it for our end change. Cuba leading this one. Impressive play from them. They've really stepped it up. You see Ibra Molina really targeting Laura right now. Um what does Genie What do uh team Dominican Republic need to do in order to kind of take this back into their hands? >> 63 to keep the talk, keep the ball on court. And uh I think they're right there. The score Cuba's pulling away. They got some good things going on, but uh I think uh I think Dominican Republic's able to solve this and uh I think we'll have a good showing from them in the second half for sure. That's how I feel. >> I know. And you can't deny how great they did in gender double. So they're I feel I'm on the same page as you. Um I feel like they're just going to come back with some game plans, maybe slow it down a little bit. Um I I really believe that Tobias Moreno is going to come in. >> So take be a little bit more aggressive. >> Love to hear it. We'll see what adjustments they make. Second